memory-literary-analysis

SKILL.md

Memory Literary Analysis

Transform a complete literary work into a structured knowledge graph. Characters, themes, chapters, locations, symbols, and literary devices become interconnected notes — searchable, validatable, and visualizable.

When to Use

Analyzing a novel, play, poem, or non-fiction book end-to-end

Building a teaching or study resource for a literary text

Creating a book club companion knowledge base

Research projects requiring structured close reading

Stress-testing Basic Memory at scale (~200+ notes, 1000+ relations)

Pipeline Overview
Phase 0: Setup         → project, schemas, directory structure
Phase 1: Seed          → stub notes for known major entities
Phase 2: Process       → chapter-by-chapter notes in batches
Phase 3: Cross-ref     → enrich arcs, add parallels, write analysis
Phase 4: Validate      → schema checks, drift detection, consistency
Phase 5: Visualize     → canvas files for character webs, timelines

Phase 0: Setup

Create the Project

create_memory_project(name="<work-name>", path="~/basic-memory/<work-name>")

Use a kebab-case slug of the work's title (e.g., great-gatsby, hamlet, beloved).

Define Schemas

Write 6 schema notes to schema/. Each schema defines the entity type's fields, observation categories, and relation types. Adapt fields to fit the work — the schemas below are starting points, not rigid templates.

Character Schema

write_note(
  title="Character",
  directory="schema",
  note_type="schema",
  metadata={
    "entity": "Character",
    "version": 1,
    "schema": {
      "role(enum)": "[protagonist, antagonist, supporting, minor], character's narrative role",
      "description": "string, brief character description",
      "first_appearance?": "string, chapter or scene of first appearance",
      "status?(enum)": "[alive, dead, unknown, transformed], character status at end of work"
    },
    "settings": {"validation": "warn"}
  },
  content="""# Character

Schema for character entity notes.

## Observations
- [convention] Major characters in characters/major/, minor in characters/minor/
- [convention] Observation categories: trait, motivation, arc, quote, appearance, relationship, symbolism, fate
- [convention] Relations: appears_in, contrasts_with, allied_with, commands, symbolizes, associated_with"""
)

Add work-specific fields as needed — e.g., rank for military fiction, house for family sagas, species for fantasy.

Theme Schema

write_note(
  title="Theme",
  directory="schema",
  note_type="schema",
  metadata={
    "entity": "Theme",
    "version": 1,
    "schema": {
      "description": "string, what this theme explores",
      "prevalence(enum)": "[major, minor], how central to the work",
      "first_introduced?": "string, where theme first appears"
    },
    "settings": {"validation": "warn"}
  },
  content="""# Theme

Schema for thematic analysis notes.

## Observations
- [convention] Observation categories: definition, manifestation, evolution, counterpoint, quote, interpretation
- [convention] Relations: embodied_by, contrasts_with, reinforced_by, explored_in, expressed_through"""
)

Chapter Schema

write_note(
  title="Chapter",
  directory="schema",
  note_type="schema",
  metadata={
    "entity": "Chapter",
    "version": 1,
    "schema": {
      "chapter_number": "integer, sequential chapter number",
      "pov?": "string, point-of-view character or narrator mode",
      "setting?": "string, primary location",
      "narrative_mode?(enum)": "[dramatic, expository, reflective, epistolary, mixed], chapter's primary mode"
    },
    "settings": {"validation": "warn"}
  },
  content="""# Chapter

Schema for chapter-level analysis notes.

## Observations
- [convention] Chapters stored in chapters/ directory
- [convention] Observation categories: summary, event, tone, technique, quote, significance, foreshadowing
- [convention] Relations: features, set_in, explores, contains, employs, follows, precedes, parallels"""
)

Location Schema

write_note(
  title="Location",
  directory="schema",
  note_type="schema",
  metadata={
    "entity": "Location",
    "version": 1,
    "schema": {
      "description": "string, what this place is",
      "location_type(enum)": "[city, building, landscape, body_of_water, region, fictional, vehicle], type of place",
      "real_or_fictional(enum)": "[real, fictional, both], whether the place exists"
    },
    "settings": {"validation": "warn"}
  },
  content="""# Location

Schema for location and setting notes.

## Observations
- [convention] Observation categories: description, atmosphere, symbolism, significance, geography
- [convention] Relations: setting_for, associated_with, symbolizes, contains, part_of"""
)

Symbol Schema

write_note(
  title="Symbol",
  directory="schema",
  note_type="schema",
  metadata={
    "entity": "Symbol",
    "version": 1,
    "schema": {
      "description": "string, what the symbol is literally",
      "symbol_type(enum)": "[object, animal, color, action, natural_phenomenon, body_part], category of symbol",
      "primary_meaning": "string, most common interpretation"
    },
    "settings": {"validation": "warn"}
  },
  content="""# Symbol

Schema for symbolic element notes.

## Observations
- [convention] Observation categories: meaning, appearance, ambiguity, interpretation, quote, evolution
- [convention] Relations: represents, associated_with, appears_in, contrasts_with, located_at"""
)

LiteraryDevice Schema

write_note(
  title="LiteraryDevice",
  directory="schema",
  note_type="schema",
  metadata={
    "entity": "LiteraryDevice",
    "version": 1,
    "schema": {
      "description": "string, what the device is",
      "device_type(enum)": "[rhetorical, structural, figurative, narrative, dramatic], category",
      "frequency(enum)": "[pervasive, frequent, occasional, rare], how often used"
    },
    "settings": {"validation": "warn"}
  },
  content="""# LiteraryDevice

Schema for literary technique and device notes.

## Observations
- [convention] Observation categories: definition, usage, effect, example, significance
- [convention] Relations: used_in, characterizes, expresses, related_to"""
)

Directory Structure

<project>/
  schema/            # 6 schema definitions
  chapters/          # one note per chapter/section + prologue/epilogue
  characters/
    major/           # protagonist, antagonist, key supporting
    minor/           # named characters with limited roles
  themes/            # thematic analysis notes
  locations/         # settings and places
  symbols/           # symbolic elements
  literary-devices/  # techniques and devices
  analysis/          # cross-cutting synthesis
  tasks/             # processing tracker

Phase 1: Seed Entities

Before processing chapters, create stub notes for major entities so [[wiki-links]] resolve from the start.

Characters (major)

For each major character, create a stub with known metadata:

write_note(
  title="<Character Name>",
  directory="characters/major",
  note_type="Character",
  tags=["character", "major", "<role>"],
  metadata={"role": "<role>", "description": "<brief description>"},
  content="""# <Character Name>

## Observations
- [role] <Character's role in the work>
- [appearance] <Key physical description>

## Relations
- associated_with [[<Related Character>]]
- appears_in [[<Key Location>]]"""
)

Seed Checklist

Identify the work's major entities before you start reading. A good starting inventory:

Type
Typical Count
What to Include

Characters (major)
8-20
Protagonist, antagonist, key supporting cast

Themes
5-12
Central concerns the work explores

Locations
4-10
Primary settings, symbolically significant places

Symbols
4-10
Recurring objects, images, or motifs with layered meaning

Stubs don't need to be complete — they give [[wiki-link]] targets and will be enriched during chapter processing.

Phase 2: Chapter Processing

Source Text Preparation

Obtain the full text and identify chapter/section boundaries. For public domain works, Project Gutenberg is a good source. For copyrighted works, work from a physical or licensed digital copy.

Batching Strategy

Process ~10 chapters per batch to balance depth with progress. Group by narrative arc or thematic focus:

Batch
Typical Content

1
Opening: setting, character introductions, world-building

2-3
Rising action: conflicts established, relationships develop

4-6
Middle: complications, turning points, thematic deepening

7-8
Climax approach: escalation, revelations, crises

Final
Climax, resolution, epilogue

Adjust batch size based on chapter length and density. Short, action-heavy chapters can be batched in larger groups; long, philosophically dense chapters may need smaller batches.

Per-Chapter Workflow

For each chapter:

1. Read the chapter carefully. If working from a source text file, read the relevant section.

2. Create the chapter note:

write_note(
  title="Chapter <N> - <Title>",
  directory="chapters",
  note_type="Chapter",
  tags=["chapter", "<arc-phase>"],
  metadata={
    "chapter_number": <N>,
    "pov": "<narrator or POV character>",
    "setting": "<primary location>",
    "narrative_mode": "<mode>"
  },
  content="""# Chapter <N> - <Title>

## Observations
- [summary] <1-2 sentence synopsis>
- [event] <Key plot events>
- [tone] <Emotional and stylistic atmosphere>
- [technique] <Notable narrative techniques>
- [quote] "<Significant passage>"
- [significance] <Why this chapter matters to the whole>
- [foreshadowing] <Hints at future events>

## Relations
- features [[<Character>]]
- set_in [[<Location>]]
- explores [[<Theme>]]
- contains [[<Symbol>]]
- employs [[<Literary Device>]]
- follows [[Chapter <N-1> - <Previous Title>]]
- precedes [[Chapter <N+1> - <Next Title>]]"""
)

3. Enrich related entities:

edit_note(
  identifier="characters/major/<character-slug>",
  operation="append",
  heading="Observations",
  content="""- [arc] Ch.<N>: <What happens to this character>
- [quote] "<Attributed quote>" (Ch.<N>)"""
)

4. Track progress using the memory-tasks skill to create a processing task that survives context compaction.

What to Capture Per Chapter

Category
What to Look For

[summary]
1-2 sentence chapter synopsis

[event]
Key plot events (actions, revelations, arrivals)

[tone]
Emotional and stylistic atmosphere

[technique]
Narrative innovations (POV shifts, structural experiments, genre blending)

[quote]
Memorable or thematically significant passages

[significance]
Why this chapter matters to the whole

[foreshadowing]
Hints at future events

Entity Enrichment Per Chapter

As each chapter is processed, append observations to relevant entities:

Characters: [arc] moments, new [trait] revelations, [quote] attributions

Themes: [manifestation] in this chapter, [evolution] shifts

Symbols: [appearance] with context, new [interpretation] angles

Locations: [atmosphere] as described, [significance] in scene

Literary devices: [example] from this chapter

Adding Prose and Interpretation

After the structured observations are in place, consider adding interpretive prose to major entity notes. Prepend 2-4 paragraphs of critical essay before the Observations section using edit_note(operation="prepend"). This prose should:

Argue for a reading of the character, theme, or symbol — not just describe it

Connect the entity to the work's larger concerns and to literary tradition

Include subjective opinions clearly marked as such ("In my reading...", "I find...")

Ground claims in textual evidence cited by chapter number

The prose adds the interpretive texture that structured observations alone cannot capture.

Phase 3: Cross-Referencing

After all chapters are processed:

Character Arcs

For each major character, write a full [arc] summary observation covering their trajectory across the work.

Theme Evolution

For each theme, add [evolution] observations tracing how it develops from introduction to resolution.

Chapter Parallels

Add parallels and contrasts_with relations between structurally similar chapters (e.g., mirrored scenes, repeated settings, thematic echoes).

Analysis Notes

Create synthesis notes in analysis/:

write_note(
  title="Narrative Structure",
  directory="analysis",
  note_type="note",
  tags=["analysis", "structure"],
  content="""# Narrative Structure

Analysis of the work's narrative architecture.

## Observations
- [structure] <Overall arc description>
- [technique] <Key narrative strategies>
...

## Relations
- analyzes [[<Protagonist>]]
- analyzes [[<Key Character>]]
- explores [[<Central Theme>]]
..."""
)

Recommended analysis notes:

Narrative Structure — overall architecture and pacing

Work Overview — synthesis of the complete work (summary, thesis, legacy)

Critical Reception — historical and contemporary interpretations

Discover Emergent Entities

During chapter processing, new minor characters, locations, and symbols will emerge. Create notes for any that appear in 3+ chapters or carry thematic weight.

Phase 4: Validation

Schema Validation

# Validate each entity type
schema_validate(noteType="Character")
schema_validate(noteType="Theme")
schema_validate(noteType="Chapter")
schema_validate(noteType="Location")
schema_validate(noteType="Symbol")
schema_validate(noteType="LiteraryDevice")

Drift Detection

schema_diff(noteType="Character")
# ... for each type

Fix issues found — common fixes:

Missing required observation categories → add them via edit_note

Enum values outside allowed set → correct metadata

Fields in notes but not schema → add as optional to schema if legitimate

Relation Consistency

Spot-check bidirectional relations: if Chapter X features [[Character]], does Character have observations referencing Chapter X? Fix gaps.

Phase 5: Visualization

Generate canvas files for visual exploration:

# Character relationship web
canvas(query="type:Character AND role:protagonist OR role:antagonist OR role:supporting")

# Theme connections
canvas(query="type:Theme")

# Chapter timeline with key events
canvas(query="type:Chapter", layout="timeline")

Adapting to Other Genres

This pipeline works for any literary text. Adjust schemas for genre:

Genre
Schema Adjustments

Novel
Base schemas work as-is; add genre-specific Character fields as needed

Play
Add Act and Scene schemas; Character gets speaking_lines field

Poetry collection
Replace Chapter with Poem; add form, meter, rhyme_scheme fields

Non-fiction
Replace Chapter with Section; add Argument, Evidence schemas

Short story collection
Add Story schema with narrator, setting, word_count

Epic/myth
Add Deity, Prophecy schemas; Location gets mythological_significance

Memoir
Character schema gets relationship_to_narrator; add Memory schema

Scaling Guidance

Work Length
Batch Size
Estimated Notes

Novella (~40K words)
5-10 chapters
~50-80

Novel (~80K words)
8-12 chapters
~100-150

Long novel (~200K+ words)
10-15 chapters
~200-300

Series (multiple volumes)
1 volume at a time
~200+ per volume

Related Skills

memory-schema — Schema creation, validation, and drift detection

memory-tasks — Track chapter processing progress across context compaction

memory-notes — Note writing patterns, observation categories, wiki-links

memory-ingest — Processing external input into structured entities

memory-metadata-search — Querying notes by frontmatter fields

memory-lifecycle — Archiving completed analysis phases

Guidelines

Seed before processing. Create entity stubs first so wiki-links resolve immediately during chapter processing.

Batch for sanity. Processing ~10 chapters at a time balances depth with momentum. Track progress with a Task note.

Read the source text. Don't rely on memory or summaries. Read (or re-read) the actual text for each batch before creating notes. Textual evidence is everything.

Observations are your index. The knowledge graph's value comes from categorized observations. Be generous with categories and specific with content.

Relations are your web. Every chapter should link to characters, themes, locations, and devices. Every entity should link back to chapters where it appears.

Enrich iteratively. Entity notes grow richer with each chapter. Don't try to write the perfect character note upfront — append as you go.

Add prose for depth. After structured data is in place, add interpretive essays to major notes. The prose captures what observations cannot: argument, nuance, opinion, and voice.

Validate periodically. Run schema_validate after each batch, not just at the end. Catch drift early.

Quote generously. Literary analysis lives on textual evidence. Include significant quotes as [quote] observations with chapter attribution.

Review and revise. After completing all chapters, review the full graph from an external perspective. Look for thin notes, missing connections, and gaps in coverage. The first pass is never the last.

Analysis comes last. Synthesis notes in analysis/ should be written after all chapters are processed, when you have the full picture.